Centre of Excellence on Emerging Technologies to Develop at MAKAUT, WB

    Campus Karma
    By Campus Karma

    MAKAUT Developing Centre of Excellence on Emerging Technologies

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    A 360 degree camera for VR photography


    Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology has decided to set up a Center of Excellence on Innovation at its Salt Lake Campus, dedicated to emerging technologies, with special focus on animation, VFX, AR-VR-MR-XR and more. (VR- Virtual Reality, AR- Augmented Reality, MR – Mixed Reality).
    MAKAUT has already introduced B.Sc degrees in animation, film making, AR-VR-MR-XR, VFX, 3D printing and so on. The demand for experts in these fields every year has been on the rise.

    Under the able leadership of vice chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Saikat Maitra, MAKAUT has already introduced a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on VR, MR, AR, XR technologies to train faculty members of the University as well as its affiliated colleges and also other degree colleges. In his words, "I want to encourage the young generation to develop their career by embracing these new technologies, so that they do not have to look back in life."

    Next comes another two programmes: 

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    • A Master Class on Photography/Videography/Cinematography, including VR/AR technology will be conducted by Canon India for the students of MAKAUT, WB and its affiliated colleges/institutions. The Inaugural Program for the Master Class will be held at the Salt Lake Campus of MAKAUT on 28.03.2020 (Saturday) at 11.00 a m and the First Class will be held from 2-4 p m at IBM-2 Lab in the same campus. 
    • A Master Class on VR/AR Film Making will be conducted by MAKAUT, WB for its students and also students of its affiliated Colleges/Institutions. The Inaugural Program for the Master Class will be held at the Salt Lake Campus of MAKAUT on 28.03.2020 (Saturday) at 12 noon and the First Class will be held from 2-4 p m at IBM-1 Lab in the same campus.  
    The Head of the Department of Emerging Technologies, MAKAUT, Samir Mukherjee said, “With more than 200 affiliated colleges, there is a huge scope for imparting these job oriented Courses. From last year, we are focusing more on immersive technologies based od VR/AR. Today, corporate sectors are also looking for innovation and new technologies for projects. For instance – in the Architectural front, VR enables one to give a walkthrough the design rather than presenting a mere sketch. But in college life, students are hardly aware of these.”
    Prof. Mukherjee, who travels overseas like Europe, Germany, China and so on to give lectures on emerging immersive technologies, is connected with various international projects and organisations like World VR Forum (WVRF) Geneva of which he is looking at the India part. He said, “VR-MR-AR, will be everywhere in a few years time. So, at MAKAUT we are focusing on preparing students so that they can master these technologies."
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    The use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) is growing across sectors by leaps and bounds. The organizations and institutions involving entertainment, media, education, retail, real estate, automobiles etc are using these technologies to involve their core audience, Customers or users. The faculties teaching in different colleges can never keep themselves aloof from this emerging technology, as they are the key persons entrusted with the task of nation building and influencing the minds of the young generation. In fact, VR/AR technologies are becoming more and more important as media of instruction in the teaching-learning process. It is needless to mention that through this mode of instruction the learner can penetrate in the subject matter lucidly and vividly. So MAKAUT wants to be the pioneer in gearing up the students in this direction by setting up the Centre of Excellence.






    It is in this perspective that Maulana Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), West Bengal is going to arrange the Faculty Development Program (FDP) for 10 days, pertaining to a Training for Virtual Reality (VR)/ Augmented Reality (AR), commencing on 19th December 2019. It will be arranged at the City Campus of the University at BF-142, Sector I, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700064 in Saturdays and Sundays, for the convenience of the faculties It may be mentioned at this point that MAKAUT is the nodal State University in the field of Engineering, Management and other Technical areas with more than 200 affiliated colleges.


    The Course Co-ordinator is Prof. Samir Mukherjee, the Head of the Department of Emerging Technology & VR/AR/MR/XR, MAKAUT. An eminent personality in this field, Prof. Mukherjee is the Founder and Creative Technologist of VR AR Academia, India. His field of interest is amalgamation of art, culture and technology into a distinct bend of novelty. He is the Ambassador of World VR forum, Geneva, Director of International VR Foundation, Beijing, China and Chapter President ARVRA, USA.
    VR AR Academia is a Virtual/Augmented Reality Training organisation dedicated to transforming the way content is delivered and consumed globally. It does so by creating experts and trainers on VR/AR who can integrate VR/AR in schools, news & media, hospitals, engineering and various industries and even in retail and logistics business.
    Day by day it is being widely accepted that VR/AR technologies are becoming more and more important as media of instruction in the teaching-learning process. 
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    Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata

    Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata